The New Woodman Point Ammo Jetty

In October 2020 as part of the $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Transport (DoT) was allocated $9.69 million to replace the ailing Woodman Point Jetty.

The jetty, also known as the Ammo Jetty, was originally constructed in 1903 for loading and unloading explosives. The jetty was opened for public access when the explosives magazines were closed in 1984.

Located within the Woodman Point Regional Park, approximately 9 kilometres south of Fremantle within the City of Cockburn, the jetty is one of the most used jetties in the Perth metropolitan area and is an important part of the coastal landscape south of Perth.

The surrounding beach and the existing jetty are popular for swimming, fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving. The adjacent John Graham Recreation Reserve is also popular and provides picnic and public amenities.

After much consultation, the Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, has today unveiled the design of the new Woodman Point Ammo Jetty.

The new jetty will have a similar footprint to the existing structure and features significant improvements –
* a 50 metre long, three-metre-wide T-head more than doubling the space for fishing in deep water;
* the opportunity for greater separation (four metres) between divers and fishers with a much wider main deck providing a safer environment;
* improved access to the water from the jetty for swimmers and divers via a dedicated ramp and low-level platform; and
* increased protection for the valued marine biota on the existing jetty piles.

More than 1,000 comments were collected as part of a community consultation process launched last year to finalise the concept, with a structure allowing more space for fishing in deeper water receiving the most support.

The decision to include a T-head at the end of the jetty was guided by hydrographic survey showing the depth of the water does not increase beyond the end of the existing jetty.

A working group led by the Department of Transport and comprising of the City of Cockburn, State Government agencies, Recfishwest and Fishability continues to guide the jetty replacement project which has now moved to the detailed design phase including cultural heritage, development and environmental approvals.

Here’s the final concept.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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